Edward g



(No Model.)

E.G.SHORTT; RAILWAY TORPBDO.

No. 530,906. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

QXRWzoow flu a g 4 of signaling PATENT OFFICE EDWARD G.

SHORTT, OF CARTHAGE, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES GOODIVIN EMERY, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAlLWAY-TORPEDQ.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,906, dated December 11, 1894.

Application filed March 2 6, 1 8 94.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SHORTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarthage, in the county of J efterson, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The present improvements relate to that form of a railway torpedo designed to be used for the purpose of operating, by its explosive force, mechanism on a locomotive or car. One kind of such mechanism consists of a valve located in or controlling the train pipe of anair-brake system, which valve and its operating parts are positioned adjacent to the front wheel or wheels of the locomotive or car, and are so arranged that the explosive force of the torpedo when exploded by the passing wheel, will act to turn the valve, and thereby open the train pipe ing an application of the brakes.

In operating such or similar torpedo mechanism, it is desirable to do so independently by torpedoes, as at times when it is not required that the brake mechanism be operated by the explosive force of the torpedoes. To this end the torpedo mechanism or the mechanism to be operated by the torpedo may be positioned some distance from the tread point of the forward wheel or wheels of the car or locomotive and a torpedo be employed that shall explode in advance of the wheel and under such mechanism; and with such arrangement of the torpedo mechanism the ordinary signaling torpedo would be ineffectual to operate said mechanism since a signaling torpedo explodes at the tread point of the wheel.

The invention consists of a railway torpedo having a main body or explosive part and one or more igniting ducts or passages extending from the main body of the same, so as, when in position on a railway rail, to reach from the position of the point of wheel tread to a considerable distance in front of the wheel, which duct contains igniting material adapted, when the casing of the duct is crushed by for the purpose of effect- .p

a wheel on the road, to ignite and efiect the Serial No. 605.048- (N0 model.)

explosion of the main part of the torpedo in advance of the wheel.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a torpedo embodying .my. invention, a portion of the exterior casing being cutaway to show the parts below.: Fig. '2 is a side elevation of the same in partial central longitudinal section.

Referring to the views in detail, the numeral 1 represents the main casing of thejtorpedo, which casing is composed of any suitable material, ususlly a thin metal. This casing is disk shaped at its middle portion 2 and contains the main charge of explosive material 3, which may be of any suitable kind. Extending from the disk 2 longitudinally in opposite directions, are ducts 4 which preferably end in igniting disks 5. These ducts and disks are charged with a suitable explosive material 6, such for instance as gun powder, adapted to ignite the main charge of the toredo carried in the disk 2.

Preferably I construct the casing of the disks 5 with nipples 7 of shape and form to receive percussion caps 8, which caps are employed to ignite the gunpowder in the ducts upon the igniting disks being crushed by a passing wheel. Other means for igniting the explosive material from the ducts may be employed than these percussion caps, or the ducts may be constructed without the disks 5, and I do not limit myself to any particular means of explosive material.

9 represents flexible metallic clasps prop orly secured to the torpedo, and which are for the purpose of securing the torpedo to the tread of the wheel, as is well understood.

10 represents the exterior casing, which may or may not be employ ed, though preferably I use such a casing to protect the percussion caps and to hold the same in place.

It is to be understood that the distance between the main body or disk 2, and either one of the igniting disks 5, or the end of one of the ducts, is to be the same approximately as the distance from the tread of the wheel on a locomotive or car to a point directly beneath the movable device to be operated by the explosion of the torpedo. It will be understood, then, that as the forward wheel of the locoing duct.

motive or car crushes one of the igniting disks, the explosive material therein will be ignited and instantaneously explode the-main body or charge of the torpedo, and at a point in advance of the wheel corresponding with the position of the torpedo mechanism to be operated. In this same connection, it will be understood that the ordinary signal torpedo when exploded for the purpose of signaling to the engineer, and not for the purpose of stopping the train by the automatic application of the air-brakes, will not affect the torpedo mechanism, since the force of this explosion is mainly at and around the tread point of the wheel.

I have shown the torpedo embodying my improvement as of double or duplicate form, as to its igniting ducts, so that however applied to the rail one of the igniting ducts will be between it and the approaching car-wheel. It is manifest, however, that this torpedo would be operable were there but one ignit- In this latter case, of course, attention would have to be paid to the method of applying a torpedo to therail.

I do not limit myself to the precise form or construction of torpedo herein shown. The

essential feature is that the torpedo shall have such a length, main explosive part or body that, when placed upon the rail and ignited by a passing wheel, the main force of the explosion will occur at a point some disan e n re t of the w eel, n c ntra t tion to the local explosion of the ordinary signal torpedo, which is practically at the tread point of the wheel, instead of at some distance in advance of the same.

W a s cl ime a e 1 1. A railway torpedo, composed of a main body or explosive part, and of an igniting duct or passage extending from such main part to a distance therefrom, whereby when such duct is ignited at its outer end the main explosion will occur at a distance therefrom,

for the purpose set forth.

2. A railway torpedo composed of a main or body part, as disk 2, and of an igniting duct or passage 4 extending to a definite distance from said body part, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A railway torpedo composed of a main or body part, as disk 2, and of one or more ducts 4 extending a definite distance from said body part and provided at their outer ends with percussion cap nipples or like igniting devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD G. SHORT.

Witnesses:

W. I. GARDINER, H. B. EDMONDS. 

